When you think about building muscles, don’t forget about the most important muscle of all -- your heart. While the heart may be technically classified as an organ, it is made up mainly of muscle tissue. This cardiac muscle enables the heart to contract and allows the synchronization of the heartbeat.

To keep your heart muscle healthy, it’s important to engage in regular physical activity. In fact, according to the American Heart Association, a sedentary lifestyle is one of the key risks for developing heart disease.  

The best exercise to do to strengthen your heart is called cardiovascular or aerobic exercise. This type of exercise is defined as any steady physical activity using the large muscle groups of the body for an extended period of time. Aerobic exercise strengthens the heart and lungs and improves the body’s ability to use oxygen. Over time, aerobic exercise can help decrease the heart rate and blood pressure and improve breathing.